Staande vrouw met uitgestrekte rechterarm 1706

Editor: Here we have "Standing Woman with Right Arm Extended" by Sébastien Leclerc I, created in 1706 using pencil. It's quite austere. The lines are precise and there is an interesting use of draping. What is your interpretation? Curator: Looking at the materials—pencil on paper—and considering its production in 1706, it’s critical to think about this drawing not as a singular work, but within the context of artistic labor and production. It’s a study, isn't it? Meant for further development. How does that change your perception? Editor: That’s an interesting point. Seeing it as part of a process rather than the end goal makes me wonder about its utility and role in Leclerc's practice. I guess it highlights the unseen work in creating ‘high art.’ Curator: Precisely! The use of pencil, a relatively accessible material, points towards its function as a tool. It allows us to consider the economics of art production at the time: the preparatory work, the division of labor, and the eventual transformation into, perhaps, a more 'valuable' artwork through other mediums, like engraving. Who would buy this sketch, and for what purpose? Editor: I didn’t consider the economic aspects, that really adds another layer of appreciation! I always considered drawings as the final media itself, not only a step in producing an image. Curator: The materials invite such a perspective! By looking at the work this way, we begin to challenge the romantic idea of the solitary genius and engage with the broader material and social realities of artistic creation. Does this help shape a different relationship to the art? Editor: It certainly does. Thanks to Leclerc, I now see value in understanding materials to reveal labor, production and the entire social structure behind artworks!